Even Akali MLAs are alleging govt discrimination against them: Congress

Issru (Punjab), Aug 16: Senior Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh has said that now even Akali Dal MLAs are alleging that their own state government was discriminating against them.

"Now it is not the Congress MLAs or leaders who are levelling allegations of discrimination, even the Akali MLAs have started staging dharnas against the Badal government," Amarinder said while addressing a public rally organised in memory of Shaheed Karnail Singh at Issru here yesterday.

When the Badals had not been able to "satisfy" their own party MLAs what to talk of the common man, he said while taking a swipe at Badals.

Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS) and SAD MLA from Amritsar South constituency Inderbir Singh Bolaria had staged a stir in Amritsar alleging that his constituency was badly neglected by the state government.

Even BJP MLA and CPS Navjot Kaur Sidhu went on indefinite hunger strike yesterday, demanding funds for development projects in her assembly constituency Amritsar East.

The Lok Sabha MP from Amritsar took a dig at the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for accusing him of spreading rumours about resentment among the Akali MLAs.

"Akali MLAs have been openly accusing Badals of discrimination what more proof does Badal want?" he asked. Amarinder further claimed there was widespread "resentment" prevailing among the masses against the Akalis.

He said Punjab had never seen such a "bad" government that had "failed" all sections of the society. He observed that the "resentment" was natural to grow as the Badals had kept everything to themselves.

The former Punjab chief minister alleged that it was the "Badal gang" consisting of close relations only, which had "grabbed" everything be it sand mining, liquor business, transport or cable network.

Appealing to people to be careful and cautious, he warned that Badal could play a "mischief" as whenever he felt his chair threatened he resorted to "mischievous" things pushing Punjab to the "brink".

Speaking on the occasion local MLA Gurkirat Kotli claimed that it was a forgone conclusion that Capt Amarinder Singh will be the next Chief Minister of Punjab.

Among others present on the occasion were MLAs Preneet Kaur, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Randhawa and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot.

PTI